Pneumatic piano-player action.



G. M. DE JULIO PNEUMATIG mno Puna lmuon.'

Patented Mar. 30, 1909.'

APPLICATION FILED IOV.21,1907.

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UNITED 'STATES GIOVANNI M. DE JULIO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PATENT OFFICE.

PNEUMATIC PIANO-PLAYER ACTION.

Application filed November 21, 1907. Serial o. 403,170.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 30, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

lBe it known that I, GIOVANNI MDE JULIO,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident matic Piano-Player Actions, of `which the following is a specification. This inventiorrelates to means for actuating the keys, or the hammer-action, of pianos and the like, and has for its primary object the provision of a simple, durable and efficient piano-player action. v

Another object is to so arrange the parts that'any pneumatic may be removed readily for re airs, inspection, or the like, and be replace or 'substitutedwith ease, without disturbing or in'uring any art of the apparatus.

Another ob Another Object is to resist climatic effects or to avoid them altogether.

Other .objects appear hereinafter.

i The invention consists in features of construction and combinations of devices hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appendedv claims.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accom anying drawing, forming art hereof, in w ich lgure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the relative arrangement of the partsyFig. 2 is a partial front elevation of the same, with some parts omitted; Fig. 3 is a verticaly sectional view through two pneumatics and an end tube; 1Eig. 4 is a plan of thel adjustable connection with the frame; and'Fig. 5 is afront view of a connection.

In the drawing, the reference symbol A- marks tubular action chests, of which three are shown, but the number may vary. The outer action chests A o en rt one Aor both ends into tubes B whic are closed at one end, and the inner chest or chests A open at the saine end or ends into the tube or tubes C, which connect telescopicallyv with the tubes B (and with each other, if there is more than one tube C) as shown in Fig. 3, where the tube C has a reduced end c which 'lits in an air-tight manner, substantially, into the counterbored endfoi the tube B. At. least one tube B has a branch D for connection with the air or exhaust pump usually einployed in piano-players (pump `not shown erein.) The tubes A are'perforated at suitable intervals (see a) i'or connection with the ject is to 'acilitate adjustmentsA and, assembling pneumatics, as l?, andit is preferred to-make .the said tubes or chests A of metal, as also the tubes B C, in which event the said tubes are soldered, brazedbr welded together, exA

cept Where theytelescope into each other as above set forth. The tube .D may be on a central section C, and the bracket E be on the lower section B, instead of boing as shown in F ig. 2. The bracket E is slotted at e, and the end frame G ofthe 'iano or other instrument has a vbracket F iast thereto and provided with a slot f Abolt and nut Q, passing through -the said slots, serves to connect the brackets in an adjustable manner, so that the chests can be adjusted endwise to accommodate the yinstrument intowhieh they dependent diaphragm chambers H are.

attached indirectly to the chests A, in the particular instance illustrated, over the ports a, as by attaching them to the plates I hereinafter described and by attaching said plates I to the chests A by screws-7L or Otherwise. The chambers H shown are formed by means of .the platel K which has `a Circular ilange l: thereon into which lits in an air-tight manner the beaded ring L," and the cover or cap M which ts over the ring L. The ring L has an internal flange Z thereon and this ring forms a su port for the cloth or skin diaphragm N, whic A's clamped between the ring L and the cap M and the flange m of the last-named. Preferably, the diaphragm N is attached by a suitable adhesive to the ring L and liange Z. The cap M is provided with a perforation m opening into a tube O, which tube is connected by the flexible tube o with the usual tracker T. It will be understood that there is a diaphragm chamber H and the described connections for each note that is to be played from thetracker-board T. Soldered'or otherwise attached to the plates K are plates I, which, preferably, are bent to the shape shown to-wit, two horizontal lianges united by a vertical web or plate so as to grip the chests A, and these plates I' are provided with perforations which register with the perforations a and with the upper periorations in theplates K, whereby the chambers H are. placed .in co1nmunication with the said chests. l

, The pneumaties P are connected by screws 3 with` the plates I and gaskets or packingfaces .4 are used to secure air-tight joints. Each pneumatic has therein a closed chain# ber S, which is attached'to the plate-I, and

sheet is drawn over the trac .of the stern.. Springs 6 act to munication with f diaphragm N over from the 4fast is made of cork, wood, or other suitable material, while the valve-faces are of skin or other suitable material. The stem V has a squared portion which passes through a squared hole in the guide bar tx, and the said stem is screw threaded at both sides of thel said squared part thereof. A nut X coacts with one such y body U in place, while an adjustable button W is connected to ,the other threaded portion faces ux against the valve seats on the plates K, in the normal position of the parts, thus normallyv keeping thepneu1natics P in comthe atmosphere, as indicated by the arrows in the upper pneumatic in Fig. 3.'

Each pneumatic P has a broad flange p at its free end, whereby4 it operates the deslred part of the piano action, whether it be a key or some part of the connection between the key and the hammer 23, as an abstract R. As shown', the flanges p lie underneath toes rx on plates 1l on the abstracts R. The plates r are slotted lengthwise at 1l and in assembling, the plates 11 are'adjusted to place and are then secured bythe screws s, after which the screws SX -are put in place, thuslocking the plates 1 firmly in their proper positions. The toes 11X are integral with theV slotted plates 1l named. As is indicated in Fig. 5, the

flange p is much wider than the toe rx,

whence it' follows that the same set of chests- A and their attached parts may be used 1n instruments wherein the spacing of the piano actions vary.

In operation, the usual er T, and Wherever a perforation therein registers with a hole in the tracker board, air is allowed to enter the corresponding tube o and "press the position thereof shown in the upper pneumatlc P in Fig. 3 to the position shown in the lower pneumatic in Fig'. 3,-thereby closing the connection between the pneumatic and the atmosphere and simultaneously opening the connection between the said pneumatic and the corres onding chest A., whereupon the pneumatic c oses as shown in Fig. 3, lower pneumatic,

and the corresponding piano act1on is operatedthrough its toe 1X. f It will be noted thatv -the exhaust from the pneumatic P is through the diaphragm-chamber I-I to the action-chest A. On the closing of the tube o by the paper at the tracker, the spring 6 returns the valve faces ful ux to their normal ositions, shown inthe up er pneumatic of ig. 3, and the air in the tu e o is exhausted forms a guide for' the valvethreaded portion to secure the keep the valve that is necessary erforated music y diaphragm-chamber and face thereof, a plate attac by the ump through the small hole 5 in the flange and the diaphragm N, While the air enters the pneumatic and distende-it again.

It will be observed that the described constructions and arrangements permit one to remove any pneumatic and to put it back, or to substitute another for it, without lin any way injuring any part of the apparatus.

Thus, if a diaphragm gets out of order, the.

removal of the corresponding cap M brings it into view at once, and the diaphragm itself may be removed, if necessary, without disturbing any other part; and the parts removed may be replaced or be substituted without touching any other part; if a pneumatic .P requires repairs or replacement by another, the removal of a few screws is al to get it out of the instrument. Also, the action chests or educts being of metal, they are not subject to eXpansion by moisture nor to warping, and are insect-proof, and so may be s "Ipped tol any climate, and there be used. he adjustability of the button W allows for greater yor lesser motion of `the diaphragms beforethe opening of the valve devices.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a piano-player, an action chest, a pneumatic, a diaphragmchamber, and a metal plate having a vertical and a horizontal part and fast to saidchamber and detachab y connected to said'action chest and t'o saidpneumatic in combination.

2. In a piano-playenlthe combination of an action chest, a pneumatic, and a metal plate having a vertical pl rt attached to and detachable from said chest and a horizontal part detachably matic.

3. In a piano-player, the combination of' an action -chest having a port therein, a pneumatic rovided with'inlet and outlet orts, 'a dou le-faced valve between said inet and outlet ports, a diaphragm chamber spanningsaid outlet port and the port in the action-chest, a diaphragm in said chamber o erating said valve, and means'for detacha ly connecting together said action chest,

neumatic.

4. In a piano-player, t e combination of an action-chest having a port in a vertical side thereof, a neumatic underneathsaid chest and provided with an outlet port beconnected with said pneulow the said chest-port and with an inlet port I behind said outlet port, a double-faced valve between said inlet and outlet ports, a diaphragm chamber spanning said outlet and chestorts, a valve-operating diaphragm in said/c amber, and means for connecting said 'parts togetherp 5. In a vpiano-player, the combination of an action-chest having a plort in a vertical and provided with a port registering with ed to said chest said chest-port and said plate being bent .underneath said chest to 'provide a horizontal plate or shelf beyond said chest and provided in said shelf or extension with a port, a pneumatic, a chamber connected to said shelf or extension and rovided With a port registering With said she f-port and with an inlet port lnto saidpneuinatic and also provided with a valve-seat at the inlet for the pneumatic, a 'diaphragm-chamber provided With a port forming the outlet for said pneumatic and with a port registering with With two -portsfan action chest connected With one of sald ports, a pneumatic connected With the other of said ports, an internally flanged ring coacting with said iange, L -diaphragm on said rmg, a cap co L:acting `W1th said ring, a port connecting the Y spaces at opposite sides of said diaphragm,

vand a' valve-device operated by saidv diaphragm.

Signed' at New York in the country of New York and State of New York this 20th day of NOVemb'erLAD. 1907.

GIOVANNI M. DE Junio.v lVitne'sse's:

E. STRAUss, R. W'. BARKLEY. 

